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Miners' gala team hoping sunshine will attract crowds
[July 03, 2007]

Miners' gala team hoping sunshine will attract crowds


(The Northern Echo Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) ORGANISERS of Durham Miners' Gala are hoping to attract more than 70,000 people to the 123rd annual meet, to be held on Saturday, July 14. The gala, which suffered in the Nineties after the closure of many of the region's mines, has experienced a resurgence in recent years, attracting about 70,000 people last year. About 70 mining banners will be paraded through Durham City during the event, including four new banners, two of which will be dedicated by the Bishop of Durham, the Right Reverend Tom Wright, during a service in Durham Cathedral. Gala co-ordinator George Robson said the attendance figure will depend highly on the weather. "We are certainly due some fine weather after the last few weeks, " said Mr Robson, who has helped organise the gala for the past 32 years. "Given fine weather, I hope it will be the biggest gala ever. "I think there has been a mourning period following the demise of the industries, but communities are now thinking about why they are there, and getting children involved. "It is a history lesson for them now." The Met Office forecast is not promising, but there will be entertainment on the racecourse throughout the day. There will also be speeches by Dennis Skinner, the Labour MP for Bolsover; Frances O'Grady, the deputy general secretary of the Trades Union Congress; Tony Woodley, general secretary of the Transport and General Workers' Union; Paul Kenny, the general secretary of the General, Municipal and Boilermakers' Union; and National Union of Mineworkers chairman Ian Lavery. The bands and banners will parade from North Road, South Road and the Leazes Bowl roundabout from 8.45am to about 1pm, when the speeches will start. Many roads in the city will be closed. The cathedral service will begin at 3pm. Following delays last year, Mr Robson and his colleagues have instructed each band to play one piece of music lasting no longer than five minutes outside the Royal County Hotel. The gala will have an international feel this year, as traditional ensembles are joined by Indian musicians from the Jaipur Kawa brass band.



Jaipur Kawa are visiting as part of the two-week international brass festival in the city, which began on Sunday, and has concerts throughout the next fortnight.

Copyright 2007 Newsquest , Source: The Financial Times Limited

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